Weight lifting bar, method of manufacture, and method of use

ABSTRACT

A weight lifting bar having a pair of ends for receiving weighted plates, a bent central portion which is intended to be placed about the user&#39;s upper back, and a pair of arced members affixed to the central portion of the bar, each arced member intended for placement about one of the user&#39;s shoulders, and each terminating into a handle grip. Pads may or may not be placed on the arced members and the central portion. The weight lifting bar places the load onto the user&#39;s upper back and shoulders for optimal weight lifting performance and form.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of and claims priority in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/970,504, filed May 3, 2018, which claims priority in U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/501,335 filed May 4, 2017, and is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/641,347, filed Mar. 21, 2018 which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to weight training equipment and method for use thereof, and more specifically to a weight lifting bar designed for squat exercises featuring an arced shoulder mount.

2. Description of the Related Art

Squats are a corner stone exercise used to gain overall body strength and muscle size. However, they are often seen as uncomfortable, injury-prone, and mentally taxing, but without squats, a weight lifter cannot achieve their desired goals. Compared with other leg exercises, such as leg press, hack squats, and smith machines, free-weight squats produce superior results.

Traditionally squats are performed using a straight weight lifting bar which rests across the back and shoulders of the user behind the neck. These bars tend to bend under heavy weight, can be difficult to use for beginners, and can cause discomfort and poor form. Some bars have been modified with hand grips and shoulder pads which project perpendicularly from the main bar to provide more comfort and control of the bar, but suffers from several of the same issues of the traditional straight bar.

Heretofore there has not been available a system or method for a weight lifting bar with the advantages and features of the present invention.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally provides a weight lifting bar having a pair of ends for receiving weighted plates, a bent central portion which is intended to be placed about the user's upper back, and a pair of arced members affixed to the central portion of the bar, each arced member intended for placement about one of the user's shoulders, and each terminating into a handle grip. Pads may or may not be placed on the arced members and the central portion. Unlike existing squat bars which rest at the base of the neck, the present invention repositions the weight load to the shoulder blades of the user, placing the training weight on the quads and glutes without unnecessary lower back stress or discomfort in the neck. The shoulder harness arcs remove the need for the user to secure the barbell with their hands, preventing damage to shoulder joints, wrists, and elbows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention illustrating various objects and features thereof.

FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional isometric view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view thereof.

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view thereof.

FIG. 5 is a back elevational view thereof.

FIG. 6 is a right-side elevational view thereof, the left side being a mirror image thereof.

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view showing the preferred embodiment of the present invention used in a rear squat position.

FIG. 8 is a front elevational view thereof.

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view showing the preferred embodiment of the present invention in a front squat position.

FIG. 10 is a front elevational view thereof.

FIG. 11 is a three-dimensional isometric view of a slightly alternative embodiment thereof.

FIG. 12 is a top plan view thereof.

FIG. 13 is a bottom plan view thereof.

FIG. 14 is a front elevational view thereof.

FIG. 15 is a rear elevational view thereof.

FIG. 16 is a right-side elevational view thereof, the left side being a mirror image thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS I. Introduction and Environment

As required, detailed aspects of the present invention are disclosed herein, however, it is to be understood that the disclosed aspects are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.

Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience in reference only and will not be limiting. For example, up, down, front, back, right and left refer to the invention as orientated in the view being referred to. The words, “inwardly” and “outwardly” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the aspect being described and designated parts thereof. Forwardly and rearwardly are generally in reference to the direction of travel, if appropriate. Said terminology will include the words specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similar meaning.

II. Preferred Embodiment Weight Lifting Bar 2

The weight lifting bar 2 includes two end portions 10 for receiving weighted plates of standard size. The weights can be secured to the ends of the bar using standard clips or other securing means. Each end portion has a cuff 12 for preventing the weights from sliding further down on the bar.

A central bar 4 bends a perpendicular bend 6 in proximity to each end portion 10 reward of the user when in a back-squat orientation as shown in FIGS. 7-8. Otherwise the bends would point forward in a front-squat orientation as shown in FIGS. 9-10. The bar bends again in a second bend 8 parallel to the end portions. A pair of arced members 14 are connected to the central portion of the bar, each corresponding with one shoulder of a user. These arced members terminate in relatively straight handle ends 16. In use, the central portion 4 of the bar is located about the upper back of the user, the arced members 14 each are placed on a respective shoulder of the user, and the end portions 10 are lined up with the user's shoulders in a preferred orientation for squat exercises.

Pads can be placed on the arced members 14 and/or the central portion 4 such that the pads are interspaced between the bar and the user or the arced members and the user.

The bends 6, 8 on the bar are positioned as such that the sleeves and a portion of the bar are loaded onto a rack, such as a squat rack, which allows the entire assembly to still be rotated into or out of position without requiring the weights to be shifted during rotation, unlike the prior art.

As shown in FIGS. 7-8, the bar 2 can be used in a standard rear-squat orientation. However, as shown in FIGS. 9-10, the bar can also be used in a front-squat orientation. The arced handles 14 which rest on the user's shoulders also allow this weight lifting bar 2 to be used more easily by disabled persons than those weight lifting bars known in the prior art. The shoulders are more engaged and hands are not needed to support and retain the bar.

In a preferred embodiment the bends 6, 8 are located on the inside of the squat rack, but it could function equally with the bends 6, 8 located on the outside. When the harness handles 14 are placed on the shoulders of the user, it moves the weight placed on the ends 10 from the neck area and lower back area to the upper back area and glute muscles. Similarly, the support bar both pushes the user's chest out, creating a neutral spine orientation, and supports the chest when performing the front squat as shown in FIGS. 9-10.

III. Second Embodiment Weight Lifting Bar 2

Just like the embodiment disclosed above, FIGS. 11-16 show a weight lifting bar 102 introduced in U.S. Design Pat. No. 29/641,347 which claimed priority in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/97,504, which further claims priority in U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/501,335 filed May 4, 2017, all of which have been incorporated herein by reference. The weight lifting bar 102 includes two end portions 110 for receiving weighted plates. Each end portion has a cuff 112 for preventing the weights from sliding further down on the bar.

Again as above, a central bar 104 bends a bend portion 106 in proximity to each end portion 110. The bar bends 106 terminate in an end portion 108 of the bar prior to the end portions 110. A pair of arced members 114 are connected to the central portion of the bar, each corresponding with one shoulder of a user. These arced members terminate in relatively straight handle ends 116. In use, the central portion 4 of the bar is located about the upper back of the user, the arced members 114 each are placed on a respective shoulder of the user, and the end portions 110 are lined up with the user's shoulders in a preferred orientation for squat exercises.

Pads can be placed on the arced members 114 and/or the central portion 104 such that the pads are interspaced between the bar and the user or the arced members and the user.

The bent segments 106 on the bar are positioned as such that the sleeves and a portion of the bar are loaded onto a rack, such as a squat rack, which allows the entire assembly to still be rotated into or out of position without requiring the weights to be shifted during rotation, unlike the prior art.

It is to be understood that while certain embodiments and/or aspects of the invention have been shown and described, the invention is not limited thereto and encompasses various other embodiments and aspects. 

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:
 1. A weight training bar comprising: a central bar having a pair of ends, each of said pair of ends comprising an end portion running parallel with said central bar; said central bar comprising two first bends and two second bends, where each of said two first bends are non-parallel to said central bar and where each of said two second bends are oppositely opposed to said two first bends, such that said pair of ends are parallel to said central bar; wherein each of said end portions are configured for receiving weighted plates; a pair of arced members each having a first portion and a second portion forming a curved L-shape, wherein said first portion of each of said pair of arced members is affixed to said central bar, each of said pair of arced members comprising a single arc wherein said second portion of each of said pair of arced members comprises a straight handle end, wherein said straight handle end and said respective arced member of the pair of arced members forms one congruous element, and, wherein said straight handle ends are configured to be gripped during use; and wherein said straight handle ends of ach of the pair of arced members are at an angle between sixty (60°) and ninety (90°) degrees to a direction of the respective arced member where the respective arced member connects with said central bar.
 2. The weight training bar of claim 1, further comprising pads placed over each respective one of said pair of arced members.
 3. The weight training bar of claim 1, further comprising a pad placed over a portion of said central bar.
 4. The weight training bar of claim 1, wherein said weight training bar is configured to be used to perform front squats.
 5. The weight training bar of claim 1, wherein said weight training bar is configured to be used to perform rear squats.
 6. The weight training bar of claim 1, wherein said weight training bar is configured to rotate when placed upon a squat rack.
 7. The weight training bar of claim 6, wherein said two first and two second bends are configured to be located on an inside portion of said squat rack when said weight training bar is placed upon said squat rack.
 8. A method of weight training using a weight training bar, the method comprising the steps: placing said weight training bar into a weight rack, said weight training bar comprising a central bar having a pair of ends, each of said pair of ends comprising an end portion running parallel with said central bar, said central bar comprising two first bends and two second bends, where each of said two first bends are non-parallel to said central bar and where each of said two second bends are oppositely opposed to said two first bends, such that said pair of ends are parallel to said central bar; rotating said weight training bar such that a pair of arced members are located above said central bar, each of said pair of arced members having a first portion and a second portion forming an L-shape, wherein said first portion of each of said pair of arced members is affixed to said central bar, each of said pair of arced members comprising a single arc wherein said second portion of each of said pair of arced members comprises a straight handle end, wherein said straight handle end and said respective arced member of the pair of arced members forms one congruous element, and, wherein said straight handle ends are configured to be gripped during use; wherein said straight handle ends of each of the pair of arced members are at an angle between sixty (60°) and ninety (90°) degrees to a direction of the respective arced member where the respective arced member connects with said central bar. placing a weight on each one of said end portions; orientating a user to be facing away from said central bar; removing said weight training bar from said weight rack; performing a squat with said weight training bar; and replacing said weight training bar into said weight rack.
 9. A method of weight training using a weight training bar, the method comprising the steps: placing said weight training bar into a weight rack, said weight training bar comprising a central bar having a pair of ends, each of said pair of ends comprising an end portion running parallel with said central bar, said central bar comprising two first bends and two second bends, where each of said two first bends are non-parallel to said central bar and where each of said two second bends are oppositely opposed to said two first bends, such that said pair of ends are parallel to said central bar; rotating said weight training bar such that a pair of arced members are located above said central bar, each of said pair of arced members having a first portion and a second portion forming a curved L-shape, wherein said first portion of each of said pair of arced members is affixed to said central bar, each of said pair of arced members comprising a single arc wherein said second portion of each of said pair of arced members comprises a straight handle end, wherein said straight handle end and said respective arced member of the pair of arced members forms one congruous element, and, wherein said straight handle ends are configured to be gripped during use; wherein said straight handle ends of each of the pair of arced members are at an angle between sixty (60°) and ninety (90°) degrees to a direction of the respective arced member where the respective arced member connects with said central bar. placing a weight on each one of said end portions; orienting a user to be facing towards said central bar; removing said weight training bar from said weight rack such that said central bar rests against said user's upper chest; performing a squat with said weight training bar; and replacing said weight training bar into said weight rack. 